Electro-magnetic safe-lock



4 Sheets Sheety 1.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 25

No.f372

N. PETERS. Phmu-Lnhugmpher. washingmn. D. C.

(No Mdel.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. C. J. KINTNER.

ELECTRO MAGNETIC SAFEV LOCK. No. 372,027. Patented 0013.25, 1887.

m/ di' w22-EE. .a

N. PETERS. PhumLinwgmplmr. Wuhmon. D. C.

(No Model.) 4 sheets-.sheen 3.

C. J. KINTNER.

l BLEGTRO MAGNETIC SAFE LOUK. Na-372,027. Patented 0013.25, 1887.

F-IIIIWI (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet C. J. KINTNEB..

ELECTRO MAGNETIC SAFE LOCK.

N0. 3721,02?. Patented Oct. 25, 1887.

Bank 0177;: e/s Rea/'dense'.

N. PETERS. Pnuxo-Lnhugmpher. wnshmgmn. D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. KTNTNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRO-MAGNETIC SAFE-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.' 372.027. dated October25, 1887;

Application filed May 1G, 1887. SerialrNo. 238,489. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

y Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KINTNER, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have made a new and useful invention in ElectroMagnetic Combination-Locks for Safes and Vaults, of which the following specification, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, constitutes a full andexact description.

My invention relates particularly to a new form ofcombinationv-lockfoontrolling apparatus; such that all the bolts,bolt-drawing and bolt controlling apparatus are located inf cated at thepolice-station or bank oliicers residence, whereby, on tampering withthe circuits either at the bank ofcers residence, the safe or vault, orany intermediate portion of the circuit, an alarm will be given at thepolice-station. It also relates to certain details, hereiuafte noted,and particularly pointed out in the claims which follow thisspecification.

Referring now to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure1 represents a side elevation of the interior of safe or vault door,showing the bolts in locked position and Y its immediate connections.

also the electro-magnets and apparatus which control the circuits forreleasing or drawing said bolts. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectionof Fig. 1through the door on a broken or zig-zag line, showing the bolt-drawingweight and Fig. Bis a similar cross-section through the door, displayingthe top of the circuit-controlling magnets and cir cuit=controllingsprings and the insulated couductors embedded in the door, with theirexterior contact-points. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the contacts on theexterior of the safe andthe circuitcontrolliug armtherefor. Fig. 5 is across-section o'f Fig. 4, showing two of the contacts and the pivotedoontactarm for controlling the circuits. Fig.'6 is a detail of a portionof the edge of the door, showing the bolt-guiding rollers; and Fig. 7, across section of Fig. 6, showing similar parts. Fig. 8 is a generaldiagram showing the circuits, connec-` tions, lock-controlling magnets,and weight for drawing the bolts, all that portion shown insolid linesbeing located within the safe, while all that portion shown in dottedlines is located on the exterior of the safe. Fig. 9 is a side elevationof the safe, showing the door closed, with the controlling-batteryattached.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View of my system,

designed to evade time-locks and detect burglars, showing a repetitionof Fig. 8 at the bottom ofthe sheet and a conductingconduit containing aseries of conductors in a cable connecting the bank with thepolicestation and ultimately with the cashier or bank oicers residence,where the combination-controllingl dial, such as shown in Fig. 4, islocated.

I will now refer to the drawings in detail, then describe the mode ofoperation of the complete apparatus, after which I will describe,brieliy, theexisting state of the art in electrical combination-locks,pointing out the advantages which I claim for my system, and finally setforth the features which l propose to claim as of my invention.

A represents the safedoor. Attached toits inner side, as seen in Fig. 1,are shown sliding bolts BO of the usual pat-tern, but adapted in thisinstance to slide bythe action of gravity into position when releasedand freed as much as possible from friction by rollers B B at top andbottom. (Better seen in Figs. 6 and 7.) These rollers are merelyguidingrollers, and are so arranged as to allow the heavy strain uponthe bolts to come against the bearingframe, and are held iu place byscrew-bolts N N, which pass through a boltsustaining strip, V, andextend into the door, aided in their sustaining function by bolts N N.Ou a pair of eye-bars, C C, are located additional rollers B" B, andboth bolts are rigidly attached together by a bolt-frame, B', which hasnearits middle a projecting lug, B", having a hole near its outer end ofsufficient size to receive a spring-pressed pin, Pf", (see Figs. 1 and2,) when the door opens, thereby holding the bolts from sliding down util said pin is released Yor pressed out of pos tion-a roo conditionwhich takes place only when the door is closed, and an. additional pin,Pa', (see Fig. 2,) attached to the inner face of the safe, is forcedinto opening and' P forced back, as seen', 'when the bolts' are releasedand allowed to run forward by their own weight, the `pin TFH playing inthe slot Pil". The bolteframe B nas near its center a camshaped opening,K, which has thejoint function, with the` weight W, bell-crank lever L,and roller r, ot' drawing the `bolts and permitting them, when pin Pa isreleased, to run into place and betirmly locked by the pivotedclick-piece L, pivoted at Z", and having a retaining-spring, S.

The full lines show the bolts, locking parts,

and weights in vproper position when the safe is locked, andthe dottedlines show them in position when the safe is open.

M is the locking-magnet, Whose armaturelever A is attached to the doorby a screw- -mounted stand, E', and rests normally on an adjustableback-stop, cl. It has near its lefthand end an opening, H, adapted toreceive the lower end of locking armature lever A when repelled.

o is a permanent magnet attached to the armaturelever Aff and heldnormally by its attraction against thepoles ofthe electro-magnet M, thuslocking the armature lever A down, as shown.

S is a retractile spring attached to Ai", but so adjusted as not to drawsaid lever away from the poles of magnet M under ordinary circumstances.sent in the proper direction through magnet M", its poles beingpolarized similarly to the lrespective ends ot' the magnetic keeper orarmature 0, it is repelled, and hence allows spring S to withdraw it. Atthe same time armature o' is energized and drawn up, the lower end ofarmature lever Aiv now passing through the opening H. This actionreleases the bolt-drawing lever L and permits the weight W to leave.-its back stop 'I and fall freely. The opposite orshort'arm-raisingroller1- passes along the curve ofslot I but has n'oappreciable effect upon t-he bolt-frame until the weight has obtainedsufficient momentum to cause it to strike near the upper inclined endot' said slot with a heavy blow, which causes the bolts to be quicklyand surely drawn, and the weight W and bolts 13v to assume the positionshown in dotted lines, the pin P slipping `into place when the door isopened and holding them until the door is again closed,the weightWhaviugin the meantime been lifted by hand into locking position, theari'nature-lever having been so manipu` lated by hand as to admitthereof'.

M, M., M", and S are the combination controlling and safety magnets, allof which are identical in their general details and func-` tions, exceptthat S performs the4 duty of a safety controlling-magnet, as will behereinafter described.

'Ihe magnets M, M', and S have solenoidor suction cores c c c, tothelower ends of which Vhen, however,a current is' are attached dashersor pistons D2, sliding in dash-pots fixed, as shown, to the door, andhaving vent-holes o o c to allow the air inthe upper part of saiddash-pots to escape freely when the cores are drawn up. In the lowerpart of said dash-potsare puppet-valves c", one or more in each dashpot,and air-vents m or @with vent screws m m m, adapted to regulate the flowof'air into and out of the several dash-pots. These dash-pots are soarranged and adjusted that when the magnets are energized the .cores aredrawn up very quickly, but run back very slowly on demagnetization underthe inuence of spring- .pressed levers z, z', and z acting ou push-rodse e eare adjustable nuts for regulating the throw of the parts fff, andhence the circuit-controlling springs KK K.

The levers z zfz are pivoted at q q'q to parts attached to the door, andrest normally upon backstops b b b n nder the inliuenceof adjlisting-springs s s 8.- The relations ofthese parts will 'be fullydescribedin yconnection with the description of a diagram shown in Fig.8,which Iwill now describe at length. In this ligure all the parts shownin solidlines are located entirely withiny the safe, the bolt mechanismoperated by W L L not being shown, but also located similarly as shownin Fig. l. The parts shown in dotted lines are located entirely outsideofthe safe, as seen'als'O. inFig. 9, side elevation, in full linesoutside the door.

sa is whatI call a safety-ring,7 of conducting material,attached tothedoor,bntinsulated therefrom. From the outside of the; door leadingthrough it to this ring is a series of conductors, l 2 3 4,8m., to20,`all east into said door in' zigzag shape, as shown in Fig. 3, so asto prevent attacks upon the door by drills or tools. All of theseconductors are insulated -with asbestus, glass, or some good insulatingmaterial which will withstand the high heat resulting during the processof casting the door-plate. face a circular sequence, as shown in Fig. 4,

rand all except the numbers designed for operating the combinations (inthis instance 6, 11, and 16) are electricallyconnected to thesal'etyring sa, which latter is insulated from the door. Nos. 6, 1l, and16V are insulated from the ring, as yshown in Fig. S, by insertingrubber washers under the contact-nuts, and each of these conductors isafterward connected with its particular combination-cin cuit, as will bedescribed.4

The safety-ring sa is connected by a con-- ductor or wire,y, tobindingpost b,and thence through said wire to the safety-magnet S,conductors ywl" x" baci: to battery, and its function will be fullydescribed hereinafter.`

Each of the'combination-magnets M M Ml has' an independent circuit fr Zd', each of which, except x, 'is normally open at the points dando/,butalso normally closed through shunt-routesabout thesaid magnets M and IOOThey have on their exterior sure IIS I i y M' to the safety-magnet S bywires y andi from levers z' z, respectively.

T1 is a well-known form of trembler-bell lo catedinside the safe,havingan actuating-magnet, B, equal in resistance to a shunt-resistance, R, ina derived circuit around said bellmagnet. The function of this bell andresistance is twofold-viz., to make a noise inside the safe whileworking the circuits,aud also to automatically vary the'resistance sorapidly that galvanoineter tests cannot be made from a point on theoutside of the safe for the purpose of picking the lock.

B A is the battery connected from binding-post n by wires and w* to thecircuitclosing or dial arm I. (Seen in Figs. 4, 5, 8, and 9.)

In place of battery B A it may be desirable to substitute amagneto-machine attached directly to the door and adapted to be rotatedby hand. In fact, I prefer such a machine as being more constant andless liable to get out of order, it being understood of course that sucha machine must generate director straight currents,such as will actuateneutral electro-magnets like those shown and described.

H A (seen in Fig. 9) is a handle having a shouldered button adapted totake into the face ofthe door like a cani when rotated to the right, andthereby insure the action of the pin P" upon the spring-pressed pin P,Fig. 2, so as to' certainly release the bolts and allow them to runsecurely into locked position.

I will now proceed to describe as briefly as possible the modeofoperation of my improved lock, havingspecial reference in suchdescription to Figs. 1 and 8. In the drawings the numbers 6, 11, and 16,in sequence, constitute the combinations necessary to open the safe, andthe circuit running from the battery B A must be closed through thesenumbers in their order before the bolts can be drawn. Sup pose the safeis locked as shown, and the weight NV held in the position shown in thedrawings. Proceeding to operate the combinations, turn the handle ordial I in either di rection until the spring I" is over the number 6.(See Figs. 5 and 8.) Press the knob K0. A current is then sent frombattery B A by wire x3 to bindingpost n, wire fr", handle I, spring I",contact 6, through its insulated wire to wire x", magnet M',binding-post x", wire Z to point q," lever z", bindingpostom, wire x' tobinding post t, where it divides, one half going by spring t' toarmaturelever t, wire magnet B, wire 01:"to binding-post xvi, the otherhalf going by wire xiv to resistance It and to the same binding-post,where both currentsjoin and go thence by wire a to the opposite pole ofthe battery B A. This energizes magnets'M' and B, and causes the core C'(see Figs. 1 and 8) to be drawn up, thus causing the pushrod P to riseand lift the lever z', turning it about point q' against theretractileforce of spring s', allowing the spring K to come into firmand continuing contact with the contactscrew c', thus making a newcircuit from the second contact-point, 11, as will be described. Themagnet B causes the bell T' to ring as long as this circuit is closed.In rising the cores of the magnets M, M',and S are drawn quickly.up,theplungers attached to said cores, as seen at DZin magnet S, Fig. l, being allowed to ascend quickly by reason of the air-vents e, e, and e',together with the tappetvalves seen in the bottom of the dash-pot, buton returning these valves '0" are closed; hence the plunger will returncomparatively slowly, as desired, the speed with which they return beingregulated solely by the stress upon the retractile springs s s' s" andthe regulation of the vent-valves t fo' 00" by set or valve screws m m'm". It will thus be seen that after having energized magnet M', if thehand or dial I is swung quickly to the next number of the combination,as 11, before the core C'has had time to resume its normal condition,and thus break contact between c' and spring K', and knob KO is againdepressed, a new circuit will be closed from battery B A as follows: bywire to bindingpost a, thence by wire m, arm I, spring I", Fig. 5, tocon tact 11,th rough the insulated wire embedded in the door to wire Z,thence tog by z',to springs s and K', by contact-screws c' to wire Z andmagnet M,b v wires Z" Z' to g" by z", and finally to contact 0"', andback by the same route as before to the battery. This energizes magnet Mand causes its core and dasher or plunger and push-rod P to be forcedup, and lever z to be tilted about its pivot q, causing spring K to bebrought into a firm and continuing electrical contact with the point c,thus closing a new circuit to the unlocking-magnet or last combinationcircuit. The arm I should be then turned quickly to the point 16 andknob K" depressed as before, and a new circuit is made from the battery,as before, through arm I, spring I", Contact point 16, through theembedded insulated wire to wire d', and thence to pivot q, lever z,spring s and K, contact c, wire d, unlocking magnet M', wire d, pivotg", lever z" to contact 0"', and back to battery by the divided circuit,as in both previous instances. This energizes magnet M'" and causes itspoles to be so magnetized as to repel the permanent magnet o, attachedto the locking-lever Ai", and at the same time draw up thearmature-lever A', the end of the locking armature-lever Aiv passingthrough the opening H in armature-lever A. This releases the weightedlever L and allows IV to fall. Y

By examining Fig. 1 it will be seen that no effect is had by the shortarm L and roller i' upon the bolt-frame until the weight WV has fallensome distancesay half the space it passes through,a s shown in brokenlinesthus giving said weight a heavy striking force to quickly draw thebolts, which it does, the weight assuming the position shown in dottedlines. As the bolts are drawn to their eX- treme baekstroke and the dooropened, the head of the spring-pressed pin Pa slips into IOO IIO

ISO

` common route to battery.

place and locks them in this position, so that when the weight NV islifted by hand to again lock it in the position shown in Fig. 1 thebolts cannotrun down until the door is closed, which action releases pinP and allows them to run into place, as before disclosed, theclick-spring catch L" springing into position behind the roller r, asseen in Fig. l.

It will be noted that the vent-screws m m', Fig. 1, may be adjusted soas to allow the dashers to run back at any rate of speed desired, and Iprefer that not more than five seconds should elapse between the time ofleaving one contact and making another, so as to leave as little time aspossible for finding the succeeding numbers.` Of course the bank officerwho is familiar with the combination can pass from one number to theothers quite rapidly, so that he may make his combination rapidly; butif he delays unnecessarilylong between any two numbers he must go backto the starting-point and begin over, for the dashers will run down andbreak the circuits.

I will now describe the function and opera tion ofthe safety-magnet S.All ofthe contacts from 1 to 20, inclusive, except those forming thecombination-in this instance 6, 1l, and 16-run to what I call asafety-ring7 Sa,and from thence by a common conductor, y, to post b', bywire y to the safety-magnet S, wire y to point t", where the currentsplits, as hereto fore described, and passes by two paths to post andback to battery, so that it' arm I and spring I" is pressed upon anycontact except a combination-contact in its proper sequence thesafety-magnet is energized and core C" drawn up, and with it dasher D2and plunger-rod P, tilting lever z" about its pivot q" and breaking thecommon outlet to all the combination4 circuits at the point 0"', butmaking at the same instant of time a new circuit at the point c for saidcombination-circuits around their respective magnets, shuntiug all ofthem, so that after S is once energized all the twenty circuits becomesafety-circuits until the dasher Il returns to its normal position andall of said circuits will be closed through the magnet S, as follows:For number 6, by wire 4v", contact c", spring K, wire y, magnet S, backby the For circuit 11, by wire Z, lever z', contact b', wire y, magnetS, as before, to battery. For circuit 16, by wire d', lever z, post b,wire t', wire y, magnet S, back to battery. It will thus be seen thatafter once having operated magnet S the operator must wait for its coreand dasher to assume a normal position before he can act ou anycombination-number, and that he can only do by actuating the numbers 6,11, and 16, in their regular order. It will also be noted that thecircuits from 11 and '16 to their proper magnets M M"l are normally openatcand c, but are also closed through shunts to the posts b' and b bywires t and y to the safetymagnet S and back to battery, so that all thecircuits, save that of number 6, are safety-circuits until 6 is rstclosed, and then the others sucl'cessively, which successive actionbreaks the shunts at b' and b. By this arrangement I effectually guardagainst testing for the numbers consecutively, as it will be seen thatit will be absolutely necessary to close the circuits in their propersequence to open the safe, and if this is once deviated from theoperator must await till the safety-magnet runs down and begin againwith the original number-as 6, in this instancev before he can proceedto unlock the safe. Each closure of the circuit actuates thetrembler-bell Tl by its magnet B and creates a disturbance such that nosounds can be detected in the operation of the mechanism, and alsoautomatically varies the resistance at'each break of the circuit-between t'and t', so that no galvanometer tests can be reached as tothe relative resistance of the safety and combination circuits.

I will now describe that portion of my invention designed to avoidtime-locks and de tect burglars in their attempt to burglarize the sate.I

Fig. 10 shows a diagrammatic view of the whole apparatus. The safe orvault is located within the bank or store, as shown at the bottoni ofthe ligure. On the inner side of the door is arranged thelockcontrolling mechanism, similar in every respect to that alreadydisclosed, except that the arm I is located at the bank oiiicers houseinstead of on the safedoor. The conducting-wires, however, numberinginthis instance twenty, and one returnwire, are all so intermingled beforebeing cast into the door or carried outside as to lose their identity,which is known only to the builder of the safe, who keeps a correctsecret record Iot" every safe built and the order which the wires assumeas they emerge from the door. After leaving the door they are eithercarried to a switchboard having a binding-post for cach wire with acharacteristic number or mark, also recorded in the makers secretkeybook, or they areat once twisted up into a IOO IIO

cable or carried from the switch-board to such cable, and inclosed in ametal or other watertight conduit, and carried thence underground, ifdesired, to the police-station, where the return-wire 2l is looped off,as shown, and made to include directly in its circuit a trembler-bell,T', with a shunted resistance similar in every respect to the bell T' atthe safe. The wire 2l is then again carried to the conduit, and with theother twentylwires to the cashiers or bank officcrs house where theorder of the wires is restored by the builder, running from 1 to 20, and21 is carried through an additional trembler-bell, T', to switch Sw', tobattery B A and arm I, which is normally in contact with some one ofcontacts 1 to 20. It will thus be seen that the cashier or bankoicer-may open the safe from his house and from no other point by simplymaking the combination-contacts in sequence, as before, and closing keyor switch Sw', when the magnets M', M, and M' at the safe will beactuated successively, the wire 21 being a common return-wire for all ofthe circuits 1 to 20, inclusive. It will also be seen that each closureof the circuit by the switch Sw will ring all three bells as long as thecircuit remains closed, and thus give warning at the safe, thepolice-station, and the'cashiers house that the circuit is beingtampered with.

g is a spring-pressed lever located in the return-circuit 2l, and sosituated that when the last magnet, M", of the combination is energizedthe weight YV which draws the bolts will strike it and break thereturn-circuit at the point g, and thus cause al1 the bells to stopringing and warn the cashier that he has found his combination'and hissafe is unlocked. The wires entering the safe may be taken in betweenthe door and its jamb, or in any desired manner. To apply this mechanismto existing safes it would of course be necessary to construct them inthis manner.

Iwill now describe the burglar-alarm apparatus.

At the police station or at the cashiers house, or both, if desired, islocated a differential galvanometer, Dz', having a delicate needle, N,located in the magnetic meridian, pivoted, as shown, to the yoke ofthemagnet, and having its free end resting in the middle of one of threenotches, but adapted to remain in either of the three notches shown,when forced .in one direction or the other by the coils of thegalvanometer. From t-he earth a wire, 22, is taken through asmallbattery, B A2, to a point, 02, where it is divided into two circuits, 23and 24, 24 passing around one coil of the differential galvanometer, andjoining direct to the common return-wire, 21, and passing thence to apoint, a, of said wire 21, located inside the safe and going throughmagnet B and resistance R to another branch, a", to ground, making anindependent earth-circuit. Theother branch, 23, passes around the othercoil of the differential galvanometer and thence through a rheostat, Rh,by switch Sw to ground. The rheostat Rh is so adjusted that when thesafe is closed, and hence lever g resting on its contact y, the needle Nwill remain in its central position when placed there, as shown. Inother words, both coils of Dz' balance and no effect is had upon theneedle N by battery B A2 as long as the resistances are equal. It willbe observed that the bells T '1" at the safe and police-station andcashiers house have adjustable springs ff, which are so adjusted thatthey will not operate for a small battery-current, and only when currentenough is sent to energize any one of the magnets M, M', or h but thegalvanometer Di will respond on the slightest variation of the exteriorcircuit and cause the needle Nf to sway in one direction or the otherand close a local circuit from battery B A of sufficient power to worktnc bell at the policestation, through the circuit pp, magnet B, andcause said bell to continue ringing until the balance is restored andthe needle N placed in its central position, as shown. XVhen the Safe isopen during the day, the switch. Sw

should be opened to prevent the hell from ringing continually. As soonas the safe is closed, the needle will cause the bell to sound an alarm,when the switch should be turned on and the needle again centered, afterwhich the bell will stop ringing, so that the differential galvanometerDi and its circuits form a complete check on the operation of thesafe-lock and indicate to the police or the cashier at his house whenitis closed or open..

Y I do notlimit myselfto the use ofthe specific details hereindescribed, as it is obvious that many of the details might be modifiedin various ways. I have disclosed what I consider the best apparatusdesigned by me to accomplish the results sought, and I desire itunderstood that the apparatus herein described is ofa generic nature andembraces a wide departure in the art of controlling and regulating bankand safe locks. Prior to my invention in this art safe-locks had beencontrolled through the agency of electricity through the use ot' doublespindles passing through the door. Time mechanisms have been devised forclosing electrical circuits at predetermined times and thereby placingthe lock in condition to be opened; but so far as I am aware no one hascontrolled a lock solely by electrical agencies without some mechanicalconnection passing through the door, nor has any one to my knowledgeoperated safe-locks from a distance, thereby leaving the safe intact andinapproachable by burglars. I

I will now state some of the advantages of my improved system.

First. The bolts and all mechanical connection being entirely within thesafe, it leaves no point of attack for burglars.

Second. Safe and vault doors may be made of any thickness desired, andthe conductors cast or built therein, and hence avoid the attack ofburglars and the use of dynamite.

Third. The lock is absolutely noiseless in its action and cannot bepicked.

Fourth. Any number of combinations maybe made with twenty wires, and alock with four or five combinations can be unlocked in as many seconds,while with the old style of tumbler-lock a four-combination lock oftentakes as many minutes, and it is very annoying to have to remember howmany times to turn to the right or left successively. Titti my lock I godirect to the number and close the circuit-s successively.

Fifth. I can control my lock from three or more different positions,ifdesired--as from the cashiers house, the presidents house, or thepolicestation-by taking off derived circuits from the police-station inmultiple arc, one set running to each ofiicers house, and a battery anddial located at each house adapted to ring the bell at thepolice-station.

Sixth. Burglars and a bank officer cannot by collusion rob a safewithout also forming a collusion with the police.

Seventh. If one starts wrong in seeking the combination, he can neverhope to tind it, for

IOO

IIO

IZO

having once operated the safety-magnet, his future actions are of noavail, as Will be understood from the foregoing description.

Eighth. The burglar-alarm at the police-station is an effectual checkupon the cashier, and itlhe fails to close the safe at the usual hourthe police are warned, inasmuch as the bell does not ring. They are alsowarned it he does close it and the bolts fail to go squarely into place,forthe reason that the bell will not ring, as lever g will not go intooperative connection, and hence the bell will not ring at the usualhour. If it is closed all right and locked, then the galvanometer ringsthe bell, and the police must balance up the galvanomcter and cause itto stop ringing by rheostat Rh and switch Sw, so that there can be nosuch thing as failure to lock the safe Without warning the police exceptby gross carelessness.

Ninth. Another and important advantage is that by locating thecombination-dial at the cashiers house I am enabled to open the safe atany time ofthe day or nigh t-a feature which renders my apparatus muchmore desirable than time-locks, which cannot be opened after they areonce closed until the predetermined time has elapsed. Of course anytampering with the circuit alarms the police, and it' the cashier wishedto open the safe at any time other than stated hours he would berequired to notify the police and go with them and the president orauthorized officer to the bank or safe. This is a very importantadvantage, and particularly so when we remember how much annoyance iscaused by time mechanism getting out of order and delaying banks intheir regular business'.

Tenth. The combination can be changed in a moments time by disconnectingthe combination-wires from. their particular contactscrews and removingthe insulating-Washers shown in Figs. 1 and 3, then inserting thesewashers under any desired sequence of numbers and substituting for theformer the safetycircuits by screwing the metal nuts directly down onthe safety-ring.

My invent-ion also possesses an advantage over existingcombination-locks in that it can be operated in the dark as well as byday, inasmuch as the combinations can be set by the sense of touch.

I donot claim, broadly, in this application a series of electricalcircuits running from the exterior to the interior of the sate and meansfor controlling the action of the bolts if a prearranged sequence beobserved in the closure of such circuits and additional means forpreventing the operation of the bolts unless such order be observed; nordo I claim the broad method based upon such apparatus, although shownand described in this application. I reserve such features for aseparate application bearing serial number 237,803, filed May l1, 1887,where I have made such claims.

I do not claim, broadly, in this application a series of electricalcircuits running from the exterior to the interior of the sal'e withelectromagnetsandautomaticbolt-withdrawingmechanism for controlling thebolts; nor do I claim in this application either the apparatus for orthe method of controlling an electrical lock by causing a proper 'sequence of electrical circuits to close successive circuits at normallyopen points within the safe, and preventing such operation unless theproper sequence of circuits be closed,all ot'such matters being claimedin another application tiled by me on the 6th day of July, 1887, andbearing serial number 243,598.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sate or analogous device, the combination ofa sliding bolt orbolts free to slide by their own weight into locking position when thesafe-door is closed, with a weighted boltdrawing lever and anelectro-magnet having a locking-armature for such bolt-drawing lever,all so arranged that when the magnet is energized the bolts are drawnautomatically, substantially as described.

2. In a safe or analogous device, a bolt'or bolts resting at aninclination and normally tending to slide into locking position when thesafe-door is closed, in combination with a bolt-drawing lever and anelectro-magnet having a lockingarmature for such bolt-drawing lever,substantially as described.

3. The combination, in an electric combination-lock, ot' a series ofelectrical circuits leading to the interior of the safe, and all exceptone passing normally through a safety device, with circuit-changers forsuccessively changing the path of the current, if the circuit beproperly closed, so as to control the bolts, substantially as described.

4. In an electro-magneticsafelock,the combination of a series ofcircuit-changing devices located inside the safe, and means,substantially as described, for causing said circuitchanging devices tobe actuated successively, substantially as described.

5. In a safe-lock, the combination of bolts adapted to slide into placewhen the door is closed by the action of their own weight,with means forautomatically withdrawing said bolts when desired, and additional meansconsisting of an electro-magnet and connections, substantially asdescribed, for controlling or releasing said bolt-withdrawing means,substantially'as described.

6. The combination, in a lock, of a series of electro-magnets orsolenoids having circuitconnections, as described, and a series ofretarding devices, each adapted to hold a circuit closed for apredetermined time only, substantially as described.

7. The withindescribed method of operating the bolt mechanism of a safefrom a point outside the building containing such safe, which consistsin setting up a prearranged order of electrical currents at suchoutlying point and causing the same to actuate boltcontrolling mechanismlocated Within the safe,

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whereby the bolts Vare automatically with drawn, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a system for the protection of safes or vaults against burglaries,the combination of a series of electrical circuits running from a pointlocated outside the building to the inside of the safe, and includingelectromagnets also located Within the safe, which electromagnetscontrol the bolt mechanism, all of said electrical circuits having acommon rcturn-circuit, substantially as described.

9. In a system for the protection of safes or vaults, the combination ofa series of electromagnets located inside the safe for controlling theoperation of the bolts, with a series of electrical circuits leadingfrom the said electromagnets toa distant point from which it is desiredto operate the bolts and circuit-counections, such that the operation ofthe bolts may be had from said distant stations, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a system for the protection of safes and Vaults, a series ofbolt-controlling electromagnets located within the safe, and a series ofelectrical circuits running from said electromagnets to a distantstation from which it is desired to operate the bolts, said circuitsbeing arranged in sequence inside the safe, but hav ing a disorganizedorder as they pass outside the safe and again rearranged at the distantstation in the saine sequence as inside the safe,

in combination with suitable circuit-connections and means for operatingthe bolts, substantially as described.

11. In a system for protecting safes and vaults from burglary, a seriesof bolt-controlling electromagnets located inside the safe,iucombination with aseries ofelectrical conductors running from saidelectromagnets to the outside of the safe and to one or more outlyingstations, and alarm-bells and connections, as described, for operatingthe bolts and sounding an alarm at the same time, substantially asdescribed.

l2. In a system for the protection of safes and Vaults from burglaries,the combination of a series of circuits and a balanced returncircuit allleading from within the safe to a distant station, the latter includinga differential electro-magnet and connections for 0perating an alarm,substantially as described.

13. The combination, in a system for the protection of safes and vaults,of means for controlling the operation of the bolts from a distantstation, and means Within the safe for indicating to the operator at thedistant station when the bolts are withdrawn, substantially asdescribed.

CHARLES J. KINTNER. Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, Jas. F. KELLY.

